QMS lead auditor

I passed the QMS lead auditor course conducted by SGS Ghana in Oct'06. They have issue a certificate too saying that certificate is valid for three years.

How does the certificate help me in pursuing a career in the field of auditing? Do I have to get registered with IRCA? Even though I have 20 years experience in the field of manufacturing, auding field has fascinated me. I was the MR for QMS in my previous company and now the Food Safety Leader in the present company.

Can any one help with some inputs?

Sankara Narayanan

Sankara,

Regarding the expiry date on the certificate this is if you want to achieve IRCA auditor certification.

you can check the audit criteria at the IRCA website http://www.irca.org/...cation_1_1.html

Depending upon your experience and the number of second (supplier) and third party (Certification) audits that you have carried out you can achieve a level of auditing certification.

if you haven't yet carried out any audits you can begin to develop your auditing experience by working with certification bodies I know that 1 organisation offers potential auditors the opportunity to build up IRCA auditing experience http://www.ferribyma....com/index.html

I hope this helps you

James

Dear James,

if you haven't yet carried out any audits you can begin to develop your auditing experience by working with certification bodies I know that 1 organisation offers potential auditors the opportunity to build up IRCA auditing experience http://www.ferribyma....com/index.html

I tried this link and sent queries to them , but mails are not going through at all.

Again as a novice, how do I start? Any body can help?

Best regards,

A Sankara Narayanan

Dear James,

if you haven't yet carried out any audits you can begin to develop your auditing experience by working with certification bodies I know that 1 organisation offers potential auditors the opportunity to build up IRCA auditing experience http://www.ferribyma....com/index.html

I tried this link and sent queries to them , but mails are not going through at all.

Again as a novice, how do I start? Any body can help?

Best regards,

A Sankara Narayanan

Anyone help Sankara with this one?

Dear Sankara,

It's not my profession but the first answer to yr question which comes to mind is to consult SGS since this seems like a perfect option for them to get more business which usually would not be ignored (although perhaps this route represents a conflict of interest )

Below is only a suggestion, I realise it represents a rather low-level option in view of yr current competence / experience -

I can see that this could be a sort of "Catch 22 scenario" which I presume is the reason for this option (pg3, step1). (this is googled, you shd check current validity if interested). -

http://www.irca.org/...ads/IRCA167.pdf.

The further practical implementation of this choice is for example discussed here -

http://forum.irca.or...asp?$sid=&id=23

Rgds / Charles.C

Dear Charles,

Thank you very much for the suggestions. The attachments seem to be helpful( am going through them).

Best regards,

A Sankara Narayanan